State Faces Drenching From Harvey

September 21, 1999|By KEN KAYE Staff Writer

Tropical Storm Harvey was expected to clobber Florida's central west coast today with high winds, heavy rain and a potentially dangerous storm surge, while pelting much of the rest of the state with generally miserable weather.

In South Florida, expect 20- to 30-mph winds and thunderstorms, even though the storm, which could become a hurricane by today, is about 300 miles away in the Gulf of Mexico.

Palm Beach County can expect three to four inches of rain while about two inches are forecast for Broward and Miami-Dade counties. As on Monday, there likely will be minor street flooding and ominous skies.

The nasty weather is forecast to continue for another day or two. By late Wednesday or Thursday, the area should start to dry out, forecasters said.

"We're looking at a couple more days of Adams Family-like weather," said Bill Locke, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami. "It would be delightful for them."

Although Harvey was to hit the west coast hardest, a tropical storm watch also was issued on Monday for most of the state's east coast from Florida City north to Flagler Beach, about 20 miles north of Daytona Beach.

In the Atlantic, meanwhile, Hurricane Gert was expected to curve to the northeast and spare Bermuda from a direct hit. The forecast track puts the storm about 100 miles east of the small island late this afternoon.

However, forecasters said if their prediction is off by just 50 miles, Bermuda could be battered with a powerful storm surge and waves three to five feet above normal.

At 11 p.m. Monday, Gert was about 225 miles south-southeast of Bermuda, moving north-northwest at 9 mph.

It had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was forecast to weaken slightly by today. Hurricane warnings have been issued on the island.

Harvey also may become a hurricane briefly with winds of at least 74 mph today. Forecasters expect the storm to continue strengthening as long as it remains over the Gulf's warm water.

"At this point we're forecasting it to become a very strong tropical storm before it comes ashore. But as a precaution, we're putting up hurricane watches," said Todd Kimberlain, a meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center.

With maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, Harvey was expected to make landfall near Tampa this afternoon and move northeast across Central and North Florida.

The sprawling system was about 140 miles east-southeast of St. Petersburg, moving northeast at 6 mph at 11 p.m. on Monday.

By Monday afternoon, residents living in mobile homes, recreation vehicles, coastal and low-lying sections of Pasco and Pinellas counties were asked to voluntarily evacuate their homes.

Tropical-storm warnings were issued for the state's west coast from Cape Sable north to the Suwannee River.

A hurricane watch was posted from Bonita Springs to the mouth of that river, about 80 miles north of Tampa.

The storm is expected to produce heavy rains up to 10 inches and tornadoes in the areas along its path.

As it approaches shore, it could kick up a storm surge 3 to 6 feet above normal and as high as 8 feet in bay inlets.

Its tropical-force winds of 39 mph or greater extend 175 miles out from its center.

Forecasters expect on Wednesday it will move out into the Atlantic Ocean, drift north and eventually fizzle.

Despite the heavy rain from Harvey, South Florida's rainfall for the year remains below normal because of an abnormally dry winter and spring. As of Monday, the region had seen 42.69 inches of rain for the year -- .55 inches below normal, the National Weather Service said.

Still, recent heavy rains have nearly saturated the water table. To prevent flooding, the South Florida Water Management District has been lowering South Florida canal levels since Friday, said district spokeswoman Ann Overton.

"We're don't expect any heavy flooding," she said. "It's not going to be a wind event. It's going to a rain event that Floyd was not for South Florida."

For updated tropical storm news, coordinates and maps, go to Hurricane Central on the Internet at www.sun-sentinel.com/ storm. Ken Kaye can be reached at kkaye@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7911.